Haverhill hockey players swap ‘sticks’ for the day

Players at Haverhill Hockey Club have become the latest members of the town’s community to benefit from free coaching sessions at Haverhill Golf Club.

On Sunday (Feb 23), Haverhill Golf Club professionals Ollie Rush and Paul Wilby played host to some of the hockey club’s squad.

Haverhill Hockey Club's players try their luck on the driving range

The arrangement was another branch of the club’s community participation project that sees it giving away free of charge coaching.

The session ran from 10am to 3pm and covered many aspects of golf, such as putting, chipping, driving range and on course play.

Mr Rush said: “It was a pleasure to coach the hockey club having been to join them on the hockey pitch over the past few weeks.

“All the ladies picked up the golf skills quickly showing the transferability of sporting skills.

“This is an offer which is available to all organisations in the area from other sports clubs to social clubs and companies.”

Tina Bunch was one of the hockey club players to take part in the coaching.

She said: “Some of us have played golf but not seriously and have not been coached.

“There’s an assumption that because we wield sticks, hockey players and golfers, that it’s an easy transition to make but it’s not the case so Ollie was able to give us some basic tips to help us to make the transition.

“We got an appetite for the game but some of us may wait for hockey retirement before we go out on the golf course.

“We would definitely recommend it as an activity. It takes you out of your comfort zone.”

The golf club has been reaching out to different groups in the community, including people with disabilities and learning difficulties to offer the free coaching, which are funded by a grant from the English Golf Union.